Furnace construction.



4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' Patented July' 18, 1916.

FURNACE CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I7. I9I4.

. BOW, P. THILL & A. E. WHEELER.

l. A. BOW, P. THILLV @L A. E. WHEELER.

FURNACE CONSTRUCTION. APPL-I CATION FILED DEC17| 1914. I

Patented July 18, 1916.

' 4 sHEETs-sHl-:ET s.'

WITN'ESSES: if I JV' VEJV' T ORS.

w James 'Bow,

J. A. BOW, P. THILL & A. E. WHEELER.

* FUHNACE CONSTRUCTION.

' APPLICATION FILED picxu. |914.

l 1 9 l 271. Patented July 18, v1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4. @tang @EL @ai @al UNTTEE sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

JAMES A. Bow AND PETER TEILE,l or GREAT FALLS, MONTANA, AND ARCHER WHEELER, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

FURNACE CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented' July 18, 1916.

Application filed December 17, 1914. Serial No. 877,706.

To all ywhom it may concern Be it known that we, JAMES A. Bow, PE-

TER THILL, and ARCHER E. WHEELER, `citil zens of the United States, the said JAMES A. Bow and PETER THILL residing at Great Falls, in tlie'county of Cascade, State of Montana, and the said ARCHER E. WHEELER generally, and reverberatory furnaces in particular, the improvement necessarily depending not only on the special 'form of brick employed, but on the matter of laying the same, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

The'invention is not Yrestricted in its application to any particular part of the furnace, but may be availed of in the construction of walls, arches, inverted arches,.floors, or in fact any other member or portion of the furnace subjected at one time to diHerent degrees of temperature and liable to suffer different degrees of expansion and contraction as a result thereof.

The object of the invention is to provide a brick or bricks of a shape, which when the bricks are laid, will serve "to overcome certain objections inherent in present and prevailing forms of furnace constructions and resulting from the use of a brick which can not successfully respond to variations of temperature under the heat to which the furnace charge is subjected.A

A further Objectis to overcome these objections by a. cheap, easy and convenient method, `and without too costly and complicated constructions or methods of binding, and without destroying the integrity of the brick construction.

A further object is to take care of all differential expansion in the most logical and scientific manner.

The basic principle of the present invention resides in the provision of initial open vjoints (between the bricks) facing theregion of highest temperature or treatment chamber of the furnace, these joints permitting the hot ends of the bricks to expand freely without materially affecting the cooler and contacting ends of the bricks, that to say without opening joints between the contacting faces of the bricks farthest removed from the region of high temperature referred to, and hence without destroying or disturbing the integrity of the member (be it a wall, roof, floor, arch or the like) suffering differential expansion.

The advantages o-f the invention will be better apparent from a detailed description thereof in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which-w Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section of a conventional reverberatory` furnace, taken through the treatment chamber and hearth, showing one application of our invention; Fig. 2 is a ltop plan of the roof of the fur- 'naceg Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, looking up; Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section through the roof or arch of the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken through the roofl or arch of the furnace, on the order of the section shown in Fig. 1, showing however, a slightly different construction of brick; Fig. G is a section similar to Fig. 5 showing a further modification of brick; Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the line 7--7 of Fig.

'6 looking up; Fig. 8 Iis a. horizontal section corresponding to Fig. 7, showing however a modified method of longitudinal and transverse roof-expansion; Fig. 9 is a vertical longitudinal section through the roof on the line 9-9 in Fig. 8, taken however in the plane of the joint between adjacent courses of bricks; Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic illustration of -a cross-section of roof showing a method of brick-laying and form of brick substantially as indicated in Fig. 1; Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are diagrammatic illustrations on the'order of Fig. 10, showing various modiiications; Fig. 14 is a. diagrammatic illustration on the order of Fig. 10 showing a modification contemplating a. special key; Fig. 15 is a to-p plan of Fig. 14; Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic inside elevation of a. wall construction showing a series of vertical continuous expansion joints; Fig. 17 is a top plan of Fig. 16; Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic inside-elevation of a Wall showing a series of discontinuous individual vertical joints; Fig. 19'lis a top plan of Fig. 18; Figs. 20 and 21 are side and face views of a wedge brick having two single tapers for each side and face; Figs. 22 and 23 are corresponding views of a brick having both sides doubletapered and faced with t'wo single tapers; Figs. 24 and 25 are corresponding views of a brick having a face with twov single tapers; Figs. 26 and -27 are corresponding views of a brick showing a double taper all on one side and with face having two single tapers;

Figs. 28' and 29 are corresponding views of a straight or brick without taper; Figs. 30 and 3l are corresponding views of a brick with double taper all on one side, but with on the opposite side; and Fig. 39 is a dia-v grammatic plan View of the furnace showing the present disposition of continuous cross joints to allow for longitudinal expansion of the roof.

In order -that we may understand the full import of the present invention, it is desirable that we first explain in a general way, the usual method of reverberatory roof arch construction. For our present j purpose we may assume the general shape of the main part of the roof to be substantiallyrectangular and oblong in plan (Fig. 39). Referring to the drawings, (and for the present to Figs. 1 to 19 inclusive and to Fig. 39), it will be seen that the roof R consists of an arch sprung crosswise over the furnace, and extends continuously the full length of the furnace, the common practice i being to make the rise one-twelfth of the sents the width of the course.

span. The bricks are laid radially so that the thickness of the arch represents the length offthe brick (the arch being made one brick in thickness only). Usually7 the bricks are all laid in longitudinal courses so that the longitudinal joints are continuous .and the cross-j oints are broken at every course. The bricks are laid so that the width of the brick is lengthwise of the furnace and the thickness of the brick repre- V It might be mentioned, that, to provide for longitudinal expansion in the usual method of construe* tion, straight open joints a extend at intervals across the .roof from skewback to skewback, the edges of these joints being made straight by providing a brick Z2 at every alternate course one and one-half times the width of the regu'lar brick (Fig. 39). With the exception of these open cross-j`oints, the bricks are laid in contact for their full length from end to end, or from top to bottom of the arch, and on all Sides; so that there are no open joints at either the top or bottom of the arch except the cross-joints a referred to, said joints (a) of course extending clear through the arch and being usually two or three inches in width. As the bricks are laid radially or on end, they should theoretically be all wedges; but for practical reasons they are usually in the proportion of three or more straights to one wedge, the wedge being suficiently beveled to 'compensate for the straights, so that the joints are for the most part not exactly radial, but nearly so. ln the old form of construction there are no openjoints on the bottom or under side of the arch, nor are there any on the upper side when the furnace is irstgbuilt (excepting of course the joints a above referred to) and when thefurnace is heated up, the inner or under side of the roof is heated milch in excess of. the outer or upper side, and consequently expands more. The greater expansion of the lower ends of the bricks (which must be allowed for by letting out the skewbacks to allow the roof to expand laterally as a whole) causes all the joints on the upper side to open. This thro-ws the line of pressure of the arch to the lower side, making the arch unstable; besides putting the strain on that part of the brick which is hottest and therefore least able tofwithstand the pressure. Longin tudinally of course the roof is permitted to expand between the open crossexpansion joints a, causing the latter to close. In this' longitudinal expansion the upper cool ends of the bricks do not expand much compared to the lower hot ends, and thus open joints are caused in a cross-wise or transverse direction. Usually, tine sand is spread over the roof to fill thesejoints and prevent too much leakage of air, the cross-joints a being'covered over with loose bricks during the heating of the furnace, for the same purpose.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the prevailing system as now generally practised possesses decided disadvantages: (l) Considerable latitude must be allowed for in letting out the skewbacks, or the buckstays, requiring constant and careful attention during the heating up and the cooling down periods; (2) the roof is unstable during the' above occasions, and during the time that it is heated up; (3) the maximum strength of the brick is not obtained, because, when heated up, the line of pressure is on the lower end, that is, on

.that portion which is hottest, and therefore least able to withstand much pressure; (4) longitudinal expansion must be provided for by special transverse joints at in tervals along the roof, thus destroying'i the continuit-y of the roof; and (5) when heatedl up, the roof permits of considerable leakage of air, due to the open joints on the no through expansion joints across the roof l need be provided for longitudinal expansion of the roof. The new method permits the use of bricks of .various shapes to be presently referred to in detail, all however .having the characteristicof presenting open joints to the treatment chamber, and contacting on all sides at the upper ends or the ends farthest removed from said chamber. For the present we will refer specifically to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. Therein we find the roof R composed of a series of bricks 1, having two single tapers for each side and face as detailed in Figs. 20 and 21, such construction resulting in the formation of a series of' longitudinal expansion joints 71. on the under side of the roof or the side facing the treatment chamber C, and of a series of transverse expansion joints lz. likewise facing the chamber C; and while the joints h are continuous, the joints h are obviously broken by the bricks of the 4successive courses breaking joint With one anothery (Fig. 3). The upper or outer ends of the bricks, that is to say the ends farthest from the chamber C contact with one another on all sides as shown to best advantage in Fig.

' 2. The hearth H is shown as of the inverted arch type (Fig. l) and is composed of a combination of straights 2 (or brick having no taper) with tapered members 3 at regular intervals forming longitudinal expansion joints h distributed along the hearth and at the sides, said joints it likewise facing the treatment chamber C. The bricks 2 are detailed in Figs. 2S`and 29, and the bricks 3 are detailed in Figs. 3G and 37. The inner vertical walls )V of the treatment chamber are built up of bricks 4 having parallel'faces with two single tapers, thereby forming staggered vertical expansion oints L" likewise facing the treatment chamber C (Figs. 3, 4). These bricks are detailed in Figs. 24 and 25.

In Fig. 5 we show a roof construction composed Nof a series of brick 5 with both sides double tapered andfaces with two single tapers detailed more particularly in Figs. 22 and 23. These give rise to a series of longitudinal continuous expansion joints e (and obviously to broken or interrupted transverse joints on the order of h illustrated in Fig. 3) facing the lire or treatment chamber C, the upper or outer portions of the bricks contacting all around along the upper portions of their sides and along the upper 'portions or sections m of their faces (Fig. 23).

In Figs. 6 and 7 we show a roof having sections composed of brick such as 4 (detailed in Figs. 24 and 25) the adjacent members of the successive sections being formed of bricks (i, detailed in Figs. 26 and 27, that 1s to say, the brick is provided with a double taper on one side only, and with a face hav-V ing two single tapers. The bricks 6 of adjacent sections engage one another along the outer facets m of their opposing faces, successive bricks 6 of any series engaging one another along the upper portions of their sides contiguous to the facets m', the plane faces of the bricks (G) engagingtheir full length the corresponding faces of the bricks 4. By this arrangement there are formed. a series of'longitudinal expansion joints 0 which areintersected by a series of staggered cross or transverse joints of.

In Figs. 8 and 9 we show a roof having sections composed of brick 2 (detailed inI Figs. 28, 29), forming the main portion of the roof, the members 2 being bounded by bricks 7 (detailed in Figs. 30, 31),4 disposed longitudinally thereof, by bricks 8 (detailed in Figs. 32, 33), disposed transversely thereof, and by corner bricks A9 (detailed in Figs. 34, The bricks 7 and 9 are disposed on opposite sides of -the longitudinal eX- pansion joints n, the bricks 7 contacting along the facets m" at said joints, and the bricks 9 contacting along the facets m The bricks 8,- 9, on the other hand are properly beveled .to form the inner transverse expansion joints n.

From the foregoing it will be seen that we may form a variety of inner expansion joints depending on the specific construction of brick employed. Thus, in Fig. 3 we have a joint between successive courses of brick, the longitudinal joints being continuous, whereas the transverse joints are interrupted; in Fig. 4 we have a series of vertical staggered joints; in Fig. 5 we have a series of inner open joints on the order shown in Figs. 1 and 3; in Figs. 6 and 7 we have a series of longitudinal parallel open joints disposed at intervals, and a series of depending on the shape of bricks employed,

Abut in each casethe construction is characterized by an inner open joint to provide for differential expansion under the heat of the furnace, the parts of the bricks farthest from the source of heat, that is to say, the coolest portions of the bricks being in contact yor close jointed. yThe manner of joining the cooler ends of the bricks is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive. Thus in Fig. 10 we show a suitable depth of clay filling 10 between adjacent faces of two-side single tapered bricks; in Fig. 11 we show a cor-` 1-1- and 15 we show a form of reverberatoryv roof R in which we provide a single eXpansion longitudinal joint t at the center of the roof, a large special brick or key composed of two sections 20, 20, with outwardly fiaring extensions 20, 20', above the roof being employed to prevent dropping through the roof. In Figs. 16 rand 17 we provide the furnace wall W with suitable brick so as to form a series of continuous vertical open joints u distributed at intervals, and in Figs. 18 and 19 we provide the said wall with discontinuous joints w, horizontal joints in the walls being unnecessary. The special brick B in Fig. 38 is not represented in any of the constructions described or referred to, but is incidentally illustrated to show the possibilities of our new system.

1t will be seen from the foregoing that the upper or outer portion of the beveled brick (which is considerably less than onehalf the length of the brick) has the same shape as the ordinary arch brick; but the lower "or inner portion is gradually tapered from the upper part to the bottom. When these bricks are laid with the upper parts in Contact radially with one another, from the top to the dividing line between the upper and lower parts, there will be sufficient of an open joint at the bottom to allow for all the differential lateral expansion and pressure. resulting from the heating up of the furnace. The principle of the feature of radial contact in the upper portion of the brick is that it gives a definite surface for taking the thrust of the arch, and at the same time allows the tapered open joint on the lower side. rlhe usual varieties of 1 brick entering into the construction of the claim is:

equivalents, the roof thereby dispensing with the transverse open continuous joints a, (Fig. 39) which are so common in prevailing constructions of furnaces and so objectionable in practice. The beveled bricks herein employed while serving their desired purpose of roof constructions, have their virtue in wall constructions, in that they take care of longitudinal expansion as fully illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, and 16 to 19 inclusive. Inthis case the only open joints would be the vertical ones as it would be impractical to have open horizontal joints; besides, vertical expansion would not be so serious a problem to contend with. a

Of course what constitutes the upper or outer portion of a brick in the roof, would be the lower or outer portion of the brick in the hearth, the roof forming the top of the treatment chamber and the hearth forming the bottom thereof, and wherever the term upper is used herein, it is to be understood as pertaining not only specifically to a brick of the roof, but to any brick in the furnace,

said term upper to designate the part of the brick farthest from the source of heat, or

the cooler end of the brick.

Obviously, the invention is not to be considered as restricted in its application to furnaces, and the term brick7 is to be considered as any member natural or artificial lwhich may enter as an element of construction into any wall, roof, hearth, partition and the like, Where it may serve to full the functions designated therefor in the present invention. By Wall as used herein, is meant any portion of the structure into which the brick enters as an element, and wherein one side is subjected to a different temperature from the opposite side, and

thereby suering a differential expansion. and contraction.

Having described our invention, what We 1. In a furnace of the character described, a roof provided with longitudinally disposed expansion joints opening into the treatment chamber, and transverse joints likewise opening into said chamber, the several joints being closed to the atmosphere.

2. In a furnace of the character described, a roof composed of bricks bonded and laid in courses and forming longitudinal and transverse expansion joints opening into the treatment chamber, and means for closing said joints to the atmosphere.

3. In an arch or roof of a furnace of the character described, a pairLof bricks positioned to form a joint opening into the treatment chamber but closed to the atmosphere, and means on the bricks outside the roof for preventing the bricks from dropping into the treatment chamber.

1. In a furnace of the character described,

a roof provided 'with longitudinally disposed expansion joints opening into the treatment chamber, and transverse joints intersecting the longitudinal joints and likewise opening into said chamber, the several joints being closed to the atmosphere.

5. In a furnace of the character described, a roof composed of bricks bonded and laid in courses and forming longitudinal and transverse expansion joints opening into the treatment chamber, the joints being closed at points farthest away from the treatment chamber.l

In testimony whereof we aiiiX our signatures `1n presence of two wltnesses.

JAMES A. Bow. PETER THILL. ARCHER E. WHEELER.

`Witnesses for James A. Bow and Peter Thill: v

M. A. BESTANA, ROY A. LoRMo'r'rE. Witnesses for Archer E. Wheeler:

F. W. SNOW', J. E. KIDD. 

